BREAKING: Miers Withdraws.

The AP is reporting the Harriet Miers has withdrawn her nomination.

Let the theories begin. Was this a bungle or a sinister Rovian ploy? You see, the White House knew that Fitzgerald was to bring indictments, so Miers was nominated as a Maguffin, only to be withdrawn at the moment indictments are to be announced, thereby muddying the waters for the press. What's the headline?

UPDATE: By the way, I had it before Drudge. Just sayin'.

UPDATE II: Here is the story.

"I have been informed repeatedly that in lieu of records, I would be expected to testify about my service in the White House to demonstrate my experience and judicial philosophy," she wrote.

"While I believe that my lengthy career provides sufficient evidence for consideration of my nomination, I am convinced the efforts to obtain Executive Branch materials and information will continue."

So this is being couched in terms of executive privilege, which seems just a bit disingenuous, no? She wasn't going to get support from many conservatives in the Senate and some Democrats were almost too delighted at the prospect of placing her on the conformation spit.

So, we may now ask ourselves, in memory of the Carter Administration: Is it malaise yet?

UPDATE III: I'll keep an ear out for conservative glee. So far, I'm getting mostly relief. But it's still early. Brit Hume's show has to be the show to watch tonight. If he doesn't have Krauthammer in his seat already, he's an idiot.

Comments

[Older Bro]

Regarding "Let the theories begin." I heard several anaylsts speculating that they were waiting for any indictments so the withdrawal could go on relatively unnoticed. Gee, analysts had it possibly backwards! What a surprise.

As for conservative glee, while on the Cardio machine at the gym this morning, I was mostly listening to Sting (and reading the CNN crawl) but switching from time to time to listen to pundants. Ann Coulter was a mix of glee and relief, the glee coming from her view that the ONLY reason for the withdrawl was pressure from the far right. Apparently the lukewarm response from the Senate Republicans and questions/requests for concrete answers on Miers' views from both parties didn't exist. Oh Ann, you nutty nut you.

[Daniel]

And the fact that the Chariman and ranking member of the committee found her response to the questionaire insufficient and "insulting" had nothing to do with this, either.